By participating in our symbolic Wild Foster Program you will make a lasting impact on wildlife preservation. Many of the animals that arrive at Woodlands Wildlife Refuge are the result of direct or indirect human interference. You will help us continue to give the best care possible to the more than 1,900 wild patients we admit each year. These precious and wild animals need our collective support. By symbolically fostering a wild species in your name or as a thoughtful gift for someone, you help us to continue our mission of rehabilitating and releasing orphaned and injured wild animals, educating the public about those animals and creating a better understanding about the natural environment where people and animals can exist in harmony. Foster the animal(s) of your choice and know you are helping to give wildlife a second chance!
Click on the animal you would like to symbolically foster for more info
Our Education Ambassadors
Other Species
Your gift is tax-deductible and you will receive: a foster certificate, photograph, you animal’s natural history and its life at Woodlands, a foster decal and bookmark.
If you choose, you can opt out of receiving these items.
Foster a Squirrel – Price: $25
Orphaned and injured squirrels come to Woodlands in great numbers as a result of tree removal or mothers being trapped and removed. Injuries result from encounters with cats, dogs, and cars. Squirrel care may last from 4 to 12 weeks. New Jersey is home to 3 species of squirrels: red, grey, and flying.
Foster a Rabbit – Price: $50
Orphaned and injured eastern cottontail rabbits are one of the more common patients at Woodlands. They arrive most often after being discovered and caught by dogs and cats; however, lawn mowing, garden preparation, and construction sites are often the cause as well. Their care may last 2 to 4 weeks, but the rabbit, being such a timid animal, is one of the most difficult we work with.
Foster a Bat – Price: $100
Orphaned and injured bats arrive at Woodlands most often when found dislodged during home renovations or repairs. Their care may last 4-16 weeks. New Jersey is home to 9 species of bats, including the endangered Indiana bat. These true insectivores are one the most beneficial wildlife species.
Foster an Opossum – Price: $100
Orphaned and injured opossums arrive at all ages, most commonly due to mothers being killed by cars or caught by dogs. Their care may last from 2 to 16 weeks, and, being North America’s only marsupial, they are one of the more unusual patients we tend to.
Foster a Skunk – Price: $100
Orphaned skunks arrive for care at Woodlands most often after mothers have been trapped and removed and/or killed, as well as becoming victims of construction or renovation sites. Their care may last from 4 to 10 weeks. Skunks will only spray when defending their lives. Their appetite for insects such as slugs and grubs make them more beneficial than most would think.
Foster a Turtle – Price: $100
Injured turtles of many species arrive for care at Woodlands. Cars and lawnmowers are the predominant reasons. Their care may last from 1 week to 1 year. New Jersey is home to 11 species of turtles, including the endangered bog turtle and the threatened wood turtle.
Foster a Fox – Price: $200
Orphaned and injured foxes are regular wild patients at Woodlands. They are most often orphaned due to parents being killed by cars; however, it is also common for ill foxes to arrive with mange, a parasitic skin infestation which can be easily treated. Their care may last from 4 to 12 weeks. New Jersey is home to both red and grey foxes.
Foster a Raccoon – Price: $200
Raccoons are a frequent patient at Woodlands. The most common reason they arrive is due to trees being cut down or mothers being trapped out of buildings, relocated, or killed. Most often, it is only after the removal of the mothers that orphaned infants are discovered. Their care may last from 2 to 28 weeks. Raccoons’ intelligence and dexterity enable them to be extremely opportunistic while foraging for food.
Foster a Black Bear – Price: $200
The largest of our wild patients, black bears, are orphaned and injured most commonly by cars; however, from time to time, and for human safety, unusually aggressive females must be euthanized and their cubs subsequently orphaned. Most often, this is a result of humans unnecessarily providing food. Woodlands is the only facility in New Jersey licensed to care for this species. Bears require special housing and their care may last from 4 to 60 weeks. As our largest wild neighbor, their diet is 80% herbivorous, 10% insectivorous, and 10% meat.
Foster an Otter – Price: $200
River otters are rare patients at Woodlands. They arrive orphaned or injured by cars. As the only facility in New Jersey licensed to work with river otters, we are thankful for this opportunity. Care lasts 4 weeks to 1 year.
Foster a Bobcat – Price: $200
New Jersey’s endangered bobcat is a rare patient at Woodlands. They have arrived having been hit by cars or orphaned for unknown reasons. Their care may last from 4 to 36 weeks. As the only facility in New Jersey licensed to work with bobcats, we are thankful to have the opportunity to release these very special animals back to the wild. The endangered status of the bobcat makes this one of New Jersey’s most elusive species.
Foster “Cornelius” – Price: $500
~Special Care Permanent Resident~
Corn Snake
Cornelius came to us in winter after being confiscated from illegal possession. We do not know if he was taken from the wild or captive bred. Since we have no origin information, we cannot release him.
Foster “Roomba” – Price: $500
~Special Care Permanent Resident~
Sulcata Tortoise
Sulcata tortoises are indigenous to the African dessert but are sold in many places as “pets”. At 2 inches, the animal may seem like a great pet, but they grow to be 2-3 feet and may weigh 180 pounds. Many are “released” or escape in areas in which they cannot survive. Roomba was found wandering on a New Jersey golf course. His condition showed that his diet had been insufficient for a very long time. As a permanent resident, Roomba will live his life out in captivity helping to teach respect for wildlife of all kinds.
Foster “Tank” – Price: $500
~Special Care Permanent Resident~
Eastern Box Turtle
The eastern box turtle is very common in New Jersey. These turtles have a very limited home range in which everything is biologically perfect for that “community” of turtles. Very often, turtles are “rescued” and released elsewhere, thus upsetting the biological balance of other turtle “communities”. Tank came to Woodlands after being “rescued” from an unknown area and kept in an aquarium tank by two different families for over a year. As a permanent resident at Woodlands he helps educate the public about the habits and fragile habitats of local wildlife.
Foster “Buddy” – Price: $500
~Special Care Permanent Resident~
Raccoon
The raccoon is a common species in New Jersey. Buddy was found exhibiting overly ‘friendly’ behavior. He arrived with no prior history, but it is believed he may have been habituated at an early age. Buddy’s story helps to educate the public about why wild animals should not be kept as pets.
Foster “Gemy” – Price: $500
~Special Care Permanent Resident~
Diamondback Terrapin
Gemy was found far away from any natural habitat for her species. Due to her unknown history she was non-releasable.